DCHA Officials Meet with UK Secretary Sajid Javid

The District of Columbia Housing Authority participated in an international sharing of information on ways to combat homelessness and improve an individual or family’s economic outlook.

Following a meeting with U.S. Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Sajid Javid toured the John and Jil Conway Residence and DCHA’s Southwest Family Enhancement and Career Center on September 20 to see different models and programs being employed in the District of Columbia.

Partner agencies, such as the Department of Human Services, the Interagency Council on Homelessness, and national non-profit Community Solutions were among the organizations and agencies who met with Javid to share information.

Javid toured the John and Jill Ker Conway Residence, a 124-unit unit building that includes more than 70 units of permanent supportive housing for disabled people and veterans exiting homelessness, all subsidized through DCHA.. The $33 million mixed income building is among the first of its kind in the country to have full-time, onsite VA case managers.

Later in the day, Javid sat in on a home ownership briefing and toured the computer lab and employment training at the Southwest Family Enhancement and Career Center. There was a discussion about the demand for affordable housing, the use of vouchers, workforce development, and best methods to connecting families to training and employment.

Secretary Javid speaks to a veteran living in the John and Jil Conway Residence.